Cishek agrees to one-year pact with Nats

Free-agent reliever posted a 3.42 ERA with Angels in 2021

March 14th, 2022

The Nationals and veteran reliever Steve Cishek agreed to a one-year contract Monday, a deal which MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports is worth $1.75 million and includes $500,000 in performance bonuses.

Cishek, 35, posted a 3.42 ERA over 68 1/3 innings with the Angels in 2021. The side-arming right-hander used his sinker-slider combination to induce a lot of weak contact last season. Hitters recorded a 32.7 percent hard-hit rate and an 85.0 mph average exit velocity against Cishek; both marks ranked in the 90th percentile or better among pitchers.

The 12-year MLB veteran has pitched for seven teams and has a career 2.85 ERA across 644 1/3 innings -- all in relief. He will look to help a Nats bullpen that registered a 5.10 ERA last year, worst in the National League.